Bob Gibson and My Asthma Camp

Bob Gibson was a Hall of Fame baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.  He died at age 84 in 2020. I must admit, I was never a St. Louis fan, and that was because I was a Chicago Cubs fan when growing up and well, they were very intense rivals.  However, the story I am about to tell is unique, I think, and it influenced me greatly in a positive way about this man who happened to be a famous baseball pitcher who also has asthma

I was practicing in Indiana at the time — I think it was approximately 1998 or so, and I came up with the idea of creating an Asthma camp for young children.  Perhaps this was because my young son had asthma, and I believed children and their parents would benefit from education about the treatment of this disease, how to cope and have a good life.  And yet, few resources were available.  So, I came up with the idea of organizing an asthma camp, which was a day long event at a local lake, where the corporate owners gave us permission to use the lake facilities, and park equipment for this all- day event.

I was able to bring in guest speakers, and my co-organizers had clowns and games for the kids, food and ice cream as well as use of the boating facilities and fishing with their parents. Pharmaceutical firms were there as well, as I remember, with educational booths.  Of course, I was one of the speakers, and hopefully no one fell asleep when I talked.  But I also engaged other experts such as allergists to speak and then one other speaker.

His name was Bob Gibson

Yes, Bob Gibson, the famous hall of fame baseball player.  You may ask, how was I able to snag him for this small-town event in Indiana?  So, I thought this was a stroke of luck and here it goes: I asked a pharmaceutical rep if he had any famous athletes who had asthma who would be willing to come to our camp to inspire the kids.  He came up with one or two names, but these gentlemen refused to come to our event, without a large amount of money, so that wasn’t feasible. But I asked this rep multiple times, if he could find someone else who would do it for free, or at perhaps the pharmaceutical firm paid for his travel, I didn’t ask.  But this man didn’t’ ask for anything from us.   Several weeks later, the rep asked me, “would you like it if Bob Gibson came to your camp, Carson?”

“You mean, the real Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals”?

“The one and only, Doc Carson.”

“Hell yes, bring him.”

Although it was hard work, I found it a rewarding event, and everyone stated that not only did they have fun and learned about asthma and how to control it, but they raved about Mr. Gibson. He got up on the stage and spoke about his life as a child with asthma.  His mother would treat it by heating a pot of tea, then have bob put his head over the steaming pot with a towel over his head, and by inhaling this, he felt better.  Then, he talked a little about his career in baseball and the kids went wild asking him questions.  And so did the adults and also a group of policemen who came to protect him. Although I don’t remember all the questions, one that I’ll never forget came from a young kid in the audience: “Mr. Gibson, what team did you like to play against the most?”

He said, “That’s easy. The Chicago Cubs.  I could beat them every time.”

I purchased a baseball bat for every child, including my kids, and at the end of the event, I asked Bob if he would autograph each bat to give to each child as a cherished souvenir, and he agreed. He signed a whole lot of bats and happy kids went home with this valuable bat.  Why was it valuable?  Because Bob was a pitcher, and not known for hitting.  He usually signed baseballs, so I thought bats would be an excellent twist on things.  However, I am not sure after all these years, why I actually bought bats.

I tell you this story, because I am sure it is a long-forgotten event, no press or media was there and Bob Gibson gave these kids and adults, his valuable time and I hope the kids remember him and this event, as they have grown to be adults with kids themselves.  From what I saw of Bob when I met him, he was a good man with a good heart, and a hero to the kids who met him.

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